Sonthaya and Chonburi faction resign from TRTDozens of senior Thai Rak Thai MPs resign from their party on Monday, just days after the military council issued an order banning for five years from political activities of all executive members of a party that has been dissolved.

TRT's deputy leader Sonthaya Kuenpluem said he and his 20-member faction have resigned from the party on Monday morning.

His faction members that resigned from the party included Sa-nga Thanasanguanwong, Ittipon Kunpluem, Charnyuth Hengtrakul, Kritsada Karun and Pramote Weerapong.

Meanwhile TRT's deputy leader, Somsak Thepsuthin, said that he and his Wan Nam Yom faction would submit the resignation in this afternoon. "We will resign from TRT for sure. We are typing the resignation letter," he told reporters.

Somsak is controlling a faction in TRT which has about 80 members. "Some members of my faction have already submitted the resignation. I will see whether the I can resign today," Somsak said.

Over the weekend, the council that seized power from the Thaksin government has issued an order that banned executive members of any party from political activities for five years if the party is ordered to dissolve by court.

Both TRT the Democrat Party are facing a trial for allegedly hiring smaller parties to serve as their proxy in the April 2006 election.

Banyin Tang-arporn, a former Nakhon Sawan MP said that Somsak and other TRT MPs discussed whether they would be subject to be banned if they resign if and when is dissolved by a court.

Other senior members of TRT who already resigned from their party included former PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva, TRT deputy leader Surakiart Sathirathai and former Social Development and Security Minister Wattana Muangsuk. Wattana was not in the executive board.